Does it matter much who we think Jesus is? Did Jesus think that this was an important issue? What related questions did he pose to people during various encounters, healings, et al.?
1. Mt. 9:27-29:
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, " Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied. Then He touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you."
2. Mt. 13:53-58
When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things? And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
3. Mt. 14:27-31
But Jesus immediately said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come" he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me." Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"
4. Mt. 16:13-17
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in Heaven."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Soul + Spirit
Isn't it a bit reflective of a momentous Divine Comedy, or pray tell a Tragedy as well, that when we view life through a Tetragramattical lens, we may well begin to learn that no one can fool the living God?
During the past two years of my own ministry, I have had numerous encounters with a wide berth of persons who seem to think that opportunism and a "by whatever means necessary" methodology can somehow pass for Biblical authenticity. But even as Paul makes it clear that "some preach Christ out of envy or rivalry" (Phi. 1: 15-17), it is incumbent on me to point out that while such practices may not hinder the Gospel from expanding in scope or breadth, we should in no way construe that if our own vantage point is sullied by envy and rivalry that we have earned the trust or benediction of the living God.
We should all be quick to remember what the Apostle Paul also says when he articulates: "Test yourself and see if you are in the faith. Do you not know that you belong to Christ Jesus, unless of course you've failed the test?" (2 Cor. 13:5) So while church history has been littered with counter-Christos charlatans who somehow carried their fraudulence all the way to the Judgment, again I say isn't it a bit late in the adjudication of Christian apologetics for so many double-minded people to be faking their salvific verbiage?
Over and over again in the New Testament, The Lord Himself warns about the nature of the heart and the presiding illusions which reside therein. Every person on planet earth today claiming to be a Christian who tries to tamper with the Galatians 1 Gospel, or who again endeavors to use the Godhead as a means for personal advancement or selfish gain will face a grisly and final end to such myopic tomfoolery. And with all the manifest blessings which ensue and unfold when we are truly walking with the Tetragrammaton, why would any of us want to cheapen the Word of Truth anyway, when all that is necessary for greater unction and joy is the willingness to undergo the refiner's fire as He purges our dross and decay, and replaces the detritus with an enduring skein of abundance and life?
During the past two years of my own ministry, I have had numerous encounters with a wide berth of persons who seem to think that opportunism and a "by whatever means necessary" methodology can somehow pass for Biblical authenticity. But even as Paul makes it clear that "some preach Christ out of envy or rivalry" (Phi. 1: 15-17), it is incumbent on me to point out that while such practices may not hinder the Gospel from expanding in scope or breadth, we should in no way construe that if our own vantage point is sullied by envy and rivalry that we have earned the trust or benediction of the living God.
We should all be quick to remember what the Apostle Paul also says when he articulates: "Test yourself and see if you are in the faith. Do you not know that you belong to Christ Jesus, unless of course you've failed the test?" (2 Cor. 13:5) So while church history has been littered with counter-Christos charlatans who somehow carried their fraudulence all the way to the Judgment, again I say isn't it a bit late in the adjudication of Christian apologetics for so many double-minded people to be faking their salvific verbiage?
Over and over again in the New Testament, The Lord Himself warns about the nature of the heart and the presiding illusions which reside therein. Every person on planet earth today claiming to be a Christian who tries to tamper with the Galatians 1 Gospel, or who again endeavors to use the Godhead as a means for personal advancement or selfish gain will face a grisly and final end to such myopic tomfoolery. And with all the manifest blessings which ensue and unfold when we are truly walking with the Tetragrammaton, why would any of us want to cheapen the Word of Truth anyway, when all that is necessary for greater unction and joy is the willingness to undergo the refiner's fire as He purges our dross and decay, and replaces the detritus with an enduring skein of abundance and life?
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